ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE
BEST CHARITABLE EVENT
What better way to give money to a good cause and enjoy yourself at the same time than a charitable event? Now a tradition of 23 years, Jazzoo, benefitting the Kansas City Zoo and its learning fund, seems to win a prize here every year. And again, this time it’s the Gold, both for the amount of money it raises and the fun it provides for more than 5,000 participants in a setting like no other. Driving off with the Silver at the Kansas Speedway, Treads & Threads has raised almost $6.4 million since it zoomed on the scene in 2002 as a benefit for the University of Kansas Hospital. And perhaps a bit more sedate but no less rewarding, the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Legacy Invitational tournament has few peers when it comes to golf and raising money for a worthy cause—it shoots a birdie for Bronze.
BEST CASINO
Is the best casino the one at which you win the most or the one that makes you feel the best while you’re losing? No matter, Ingram’s gamblers voted Ameristar Casino their Gold ship. The odds were good for Harrah’s North Kansas City Casino to score the Silver, the first Kansas City casino to hit the river. And the new kid on the block, the Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway, has already made significant headway with recreational gamblers who award it the Bronze. Their Final Cut Steakhouse deserves extra mention for deliciousity.
BEST THEATER
AMC Theatres, the Gold victor, began in 1920 in KC and still is here, but now has 342 theaters with nearly 5,000 screens across the United States. Much smaller, and much different, Starlight Theatre attains the Silver for its outdoor concerts and Broadway musicals about six months of the year. Next on the list in its Bronze glory is newcomer Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet for movies, food, drinks, and free valet parking for bikes—and lots of additional parking for vehicles across the street.
BEST FAMILY OUTING/VENUE
Lions and tigers and polar bears—oh my! The Kansas City Zoo still reigns Golden as the best place to take a family. And just wait ’til the penguins arrive! Who’s up next? A change-up as the Royals at The K pitch for Silver: the American pastime returns. And riding to Bronze is Worlds of Fun, now with Dinosaurs Alive! and Oceans of Fun, all for one price. This is not the park from 40 years ago.
BEST GOLF COURSE
Best golf course in town is a pretty hotly disputed topic. Three of our readers’ choices were private venues: the Gold to Hallbrook Country Club again; the Silver to Shadow Glen Golf Club; the Bronze to The National, which tied with the one public course in this year’s medalists, Deer Creek in Overland Park. Robert Trent Jones Jr., who designed the latter, said this is one of the 10 best courses he’s ever designed—out of more than 230 courses in over 40 countries. And anyone can play there.
BEST JAZZ OR BLUES CLUB
Making a two-spot jump and capturing the Gold is The Blue Room, the American Jazz Museum by day (well worth a trip) and a jazz club four nights a week (Friday-Monday). All the major players have been here. Last year’s Gold is this year’s Silver, but The Phoenix Jazz Club still has the vibe. Bebopping to Bronze is BB’s Lawnside BBQ—renowned for its food, yes, but still rewarding if you just go have a listen, most any night but Mondays. As Keith Jarrett once said, “Jazz is there and gone. It happens. You have to be present for it. That simple.” Heed those words.
BEST LOCAL ENTERTAINER
Of all the descriptions she’s been given, Ida McBeth prefers “song stylist.” That probably fits the best, too, for once again this agile, many-faceted singer has won the Gold award. Back again to our list of the best, for Silver, is Tim Whitmer, whose jazzy piano reflections are heard all over Kansas City—and the world. Doubling up for the Bronze are another two icons—David Basse, whose distinctive voice beneath that fedora has sometimes been heard with co-winner Bobby Watson and his startling, fine saxophone mastery.
BEST MUSEUM
Best museum for an hour or a day, or day after day, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art again is selected for Gold kudos. With nearly 34,000 objects of all kinds, it’s hard to choose where to spend your time. Next, garnering the Silver, is the National World War I Museum, where a grim history enticingly demonstrates the value of the past. And with the centennial of the Great War approaching in 2014, it’s sure to be drawing attention to Kansas City from across the nation and around the world. The Bronze goes to two very different institutions: the Arabia Steamboat Museum in the River Market area, which demonstrates the pioneer life with a sunken ship whose cargo has been reclaimed, and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, which allows you to pretend you’re a basketball star.
BEST DAY TRIP
Once again, Weston, Missouri is where Kansas Citians go when they want to get away for a Gold day—it’s just 30 miles from Downtown, and the rolling hills lead to quaint shops, restaurants, and antebellum homes, all in a town of 2,000 residents. Also about 30 miles away is our Silver winner, Lawrence, Kansas, where it seems like some of the best restaurants in the state reside. Oh yeah, also KU, for those who are basketball-crazy. For Bronze honors, we are willing to go a bit further: either to German-founded Hermann, Missouri, for “vintage charm, timeless beauty” and many wineries; or to Lake of the Ozarks, where there really is more to do than boat and live it up.
BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY
Starting where we left off, if you add massive amounts of entertainment and shopping to boating, swimming, and floating, you’ve got Branson, Missouri, our Gold weekend winner. The Silver in this listing is Lake of the Ozarks, above, mostly referred to simply as “the lake” where it’s still possible to spend a quiet afternoon enjoying the beauty of the 55,000-acre lake, woods and mountains. And the Bronze belongs to Omaha, Nebraska, where one of the best zoos outside of Kansas City and the College Baseball World Series resides.
BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE
Finding the Gold again this year is the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, where consistently sterling events of all ilk occur continually. Starlight Theatre dances, sings, and plays its way to the Silver. In a dead heat for Bronze are Midland Theatre (we’re still admiring that redo of this theatre for music, comedians, shows of all kinds) and Quality Hill Playhouse, which produces six musicals or cabarets each year in cozy surroundings.
BEST SPORTS EVENT TO ENTERTAIN CLIENTS
Sporting Park and Sporting KC moved up a notch to the Gold as best sports event for entertaining clients. We’re not sure if soccer or baseball offers more opportunities to sell that client, but enjoying with the Royals at Kauffman Stadium slugged its way to the Silver this year. Waterfalls, fireworks, and lots of foul balls interrupt all that jargon. And finally, though business talk might take to the backfield as the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium receive the Bronze. Our Chiefs well may unexpectedly surge in 2013. 
Wining & Dining :: Entertainment & Culture :: Business Services :: Business Products :: Leadership